William Seward: “Their highest, their best praise, is your deep conviction of their merits, your affectionate gratitude for their labors…”

The perils of the enterprize are already passed--its difficulties have already been removed--when it shall have been accomplished it will be justly regarded as the last noble effort which rendered the Republic imperishable.

That freedom and that security required that the nations of Europe should relax their grasp on the American Continent.

It depends not on the zeal and firmness only of the reformers, but on their wisdom and moderation also.

By the blessing of the Author of those rights, they have prevailed over all opposition, and form the basis of thirteen independent States.